Flame-indicator for furnaces.



E'. GBLSTHARP. FLAME INDICATOR POR PURNAGBS.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.26, 1908.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

@Hof/nap 30 f i sults obtained in working the furnace. a

The principle of my invention depends on,

UNITED sTATEs PATENT ofEEioE.

FREDERICK GELSTHARP, OF FORD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLAME-minicargas Fon FWN-ACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Aug. 17, 190,9.

the following is a specication, reference bev ing had therein to the accompanying drawing. This invention relates to a Haine indicator for furnaces, and the object of my invention is to provide a novel instrument for determinmg whether the furnace is operatin with an oxidizing .or reducing flame. Suc

an object'is an important matter in connectlon with metallurglcal furnaces, where it is essential to determine the action of the Aiame within the furnace.

My invention aims tol provide an electrical instrument 1n connectionkwlth certaln metals,

which will give a continuous record of theA good or faulty working of a furnace showing the eriods during which 'the' rnace -was wor ring with an oxidizing or reduc-- ing iame, In this connection, my instrument is of value when 'used with metallurgical furnaces and even withsteanl boilers,

as a possible waste-due to the burning of metal and the over consumption of fuel can be prevented or regulated and the best rethe fact' that metals are good conductors of electricity,vwhile their oxids vare comparatively non-conductors,

the non-conductors that is adapted to complete an electrical circuit through the instrument andv indicate' when a current is passing throughl the electrical circuit.I f

The invention will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed .out in the appended claims, and reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the referred embodiments of my invention, but would have it understood that the elements can be changed, ar'- ticularly in the manner of assemb age,A

without departing from they spiritof the invention.-

In'the drawlngsg-Figure 1 is a diagram- I- matic view 'of'a'iame indicator, and Figs.

i '2 to 4 inclusive are detail views illustrating.

modifications of the invention..

vIn the accompanying drawm s, nates the wall of acfurnace, vpre erably that and it is the gases in 1 ,desigv ofa flue leading to the chimney and in this wall is located a porcelain or fused quartz tube 2. In the ends of the tube are located plugs 3 of insulation, and extending longitudinally through the tube and insulated from one another by the plugs 3 are two leading wires 4 and 5 of a permanent metal, as platinum, gold, nickel or suitable alloy. The ends of the leading wires 4 yand 5 within the furnace are connected to a non-fusible material 6 as asbestos, bone ash, clay, porcelain, or any incombustible material which is a non-conductor of electricity. This material is saturated. or coated, with the oxid of metal or a mixture of metals, which are chosen for the active material. Anymetallic oxid or' mixtures of oxid that can be easily reduced to metal and re-oxidized at a .temperature near v1000 degrees Fahr. can be used, for instance, the oxid of iron Fe() or Fe203, or copper oXid CuO.

The opposite ends of the leading wires 4 and 5 are placed in circuit with a suitable `source of electrical energy 7 of low voltage, as 'a thermo battery, and a galvanometer 8 which will indicate when a current is passing through the circuit.

Since the active material 6 is introduced in the Aflue leading VAto the chimney of the furnace, at a point which is usually at a temperature about' 1000 degrees Fahr., the action of the flame upon the oxid or mix- 'ture of oxids coated upon the non-combustible material will readily determine the flow Aof a current through the leading wires 4 and 5, consequently the galvanometer will indicate, somewhat similar toa pyrometer,

(which determines the action of a furnace by the temperature and proper working of .a furnace).

In Figs. 2 and 8`of the drawings, I have illustrated the'inner ends of the leading rwires 4 and 5, as connected by an asbestos core, while in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the leading wires have been connected to the asbestos tube or to an incombustible nonconductor. These incombustible elements .can be easily coated with an active element ythat will insure. a positive operation of my Villllfor- Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

`.1. In a means for indicating a reducing or trijcalI energy, conductors insulated from circuit.

each other, connected with said galvanometer and to the source of electrical energy, said conductors each having an end extending in the furnace, a strip of non-conducting material connecting the ends of the conductors which are arranged in the furnace, and a metallic oxidized coating upon said strip and constituting a non-conductor When exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere and further constituting a conductor when exposed to a reducing atmosphere to complete the circuit.

2. In a means for indicating a reducing or an oxidizing ame Within a furnace, a pair of conducting Wires each having one end extending within the furnace, a source of electrical energy interposed'in one of said Wires, a strip of non-conducting material connecting the ends 0f the Wires Within the furnace, a galvanometer connected to the ends of the Wires exteriorly of the furnace, and a metallic oxidized coating upon said strip constituting a non-conductor when exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere, and further constituting a conductor when exposed to a reducing atmosphere to complete the 3.' In a means for indicating a reducing or an oxidizing flame Within a furnace, a pair of conductors each having one` en d positioned Within the furnace, a source of electrical energy of low voltage interposed in one of said conductors,an incombustible and non-conducting strip connecting the ends of the conductors Within the furnace together, a galvanometer connected with the conductors for indicating when the current is passing through the circuit, and a metallic oxidized coating for'said strip constituting a non-conductor when exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere and further constituting a conductor When exposed to a reducing atmosphere to complete the circuit. l

4.-. ln a means for indicating a reducing or an oxidizing atmosphere Within a furnace, a pair of conductors extending Within the furnace and in circuit With a source of electrical energy of 10W voltage, .means arranged Within the furnace and connectedl to the con# ductors for maintaining the circuit broken during an oxidizing atmosphere and for making the circuit during a reducing atmosphere, and means connected to the conductors for indicating When a current is passing through the circuit to indicate a reducing atmosphere Within the furnace.

5. In a means for indicating a reducing or an oxidizing flame Within a furnace, a pair of conductors extending in the furnace and connected together by an ineombustible nonconducting means, a source of electrical energy of low voltage attached to one of said conductors, a metallic oxidized coating for said strips constituting a non-conductor when exposed to an oxldlzing atmosphere and further constituting a conductor When exposed to a reducing atmosphere to complete an electrical circuit, `and means connected to the conductors for indicating When a current is passing through the circuit to mdicate a reducing atmosphere Within the furnace. A

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.' f

FREDERICK GELSTI-IARP. Witnesses: x

. Fl H. MONUTT,

ELLIS E.I BRICKER. 

